What Are Catastrophic Injuries?

If you or your loved one sustained injuries in a catastrophic accident due to the negligence of another person, talk to experienced Boston personal injury lawyers for legal guidance. Catastrophic injuries are severe injuries with life-changing consequences for victims and their families. They often result in long-term pain that requires ongoing rehabilitation and therapy.

Treatment for catastrophic injuries is often expensive, amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars that the victim may not have. Additionally, victims have to grapple with the fact that they may no longer be able to work or lead an everyday life as they did before sustaining the injuries. They may worry about being unable to pay their medical and living expenses, adding to their emotional distress.

Given all these factors, legal action against the negligent party is crucial to pursue compensation for the damages. Some common catastrophic injuries for which car accident attorneys in Boston help victims pursue compensation are:

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Severe brain injuries can lead to:

  • Compromised speech and language ability
  • Permanent cognitive impairment
  • Diminished motor skills
  • Emotional difficulties

Spinal Cord Injuries and Damage

When the spinal cord is injured, it could lead to paralysis from the point of injury down. Most injuries are often irreversible, requiring long-term care. Paralysis can significantly diminish your quality of life and strain your social and professional relationships.

Amputations

Severe injuries could lead to the loss of your limbs, putting you on a long recovery journey of rehabilitation and therapy. Amputations can prevent you from engaging in the activities you did before the accident, making you dependent on various medical aids or other people for daily activities.

Back Injuries

A car accident could result in a slipped, ruptured, or bulged disc along the backbone. The result could be excruciating pain and reduced mobility. While surgery may ease the pain, you may struggle for months before you can recover.

Severe Burns

In severe collisions, you could suffer 3rd or 4th degree burns that lead to infections, scarring, loss of limbs, or disfigurement. These can severely alter the quality of your life and contribute to mental trauma, emotional distress, and pain and suffering.

What Types of Car Accidents Cause Catastrophic Injuries?

Boston car accident lawyers often deal with clients who have sustained catastrophic injuries from the following types of car accidents:

  • Rear-end collisions
  • Head-on collisions
  • Side-impact or T-bone collisions
  • Rollover accidents
  • Sideswipe crashes
  • Blind spot accidents
  • Multi-car accidents

Whatever type of accident caused your catastrophic injuries, you deserve compensation from the at-fault party. Experienced car accident lawyers in Massachusetts can help you make a compensation claim and fight for a fair settlement as you focus on treatment, healing, and recovery.

How Can I Prove Negligence in a Catastrophic Injury Case?

Catastrophic injuries are often due to preventable accidents. Before filing a compensation claim for your injuries, you must identify the at-fault party and show that the accident was due to their negligence and led to your injuries. Skilled lawyers can help you prove the following four crucial elements against the negligent party:

  • The defendant had a duty of care toward you and other road users
  • They breached the duty of care by being negligent
  • Their negligence or recklessness was the proximate cause of the accident that caused your injuries
  • You sustained injuries for which you now pursue compensation

The at-fault party could be facing criminal charges for their actions, especially if the accident caused the death of another person. You could still pursue a civil lawsuit for financial compensation for your injuries. Generally, the lawsuits are against the defendant’s insurance carrier. Working with experienced car accident lawyers in Boston can make the process less stressful.

What Damages Can I Recover for Catastrophic Injuries Sustained in a Car Accident?

The financial losses you might incur after sustaining catastrophic injuries can be significant, so you deserve proper compensation from the negligent party. Your lawyers can help you obtain a fair settlement that covers the following losses:

  • Emergency medical expenses
  • Surgery costs
  • Medical expenses
  • Prescription costs
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation
  • Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
  • Costs of assistive medical devices such as a wheelchair
  • In-home or nursing home facility care
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of consortium
  • Diminished quality of life

The amount you can get depends on the extent of your injuries and the resources available to compensate you. However, aggressive personal injury attorneys in Massachusetts can fight to help you recover the maximum settlement amount possible.

How Much Time Do I Have to File a Catastrophic Injury Claim?

Massachusetts has a three-year deadline for filing personal injury lawsuits from the accident date. In other cases, the deadline may be extended to three years from when the injuries were discovered or should have been discovered.

Filing a claim within this timeframe is crucial to prevent it from being denied. Experienced car accident attorneys in Massachusetts can ensure you file your civil complaint within the time limits. They can also investigate your case’s crucial aspects to create a strong case that enhances the chances of obtaining maximum compensation.

An Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer Helping You Deal with Catastrophic Injuries After a Car Accident

Pursuing a compensation claim can be lengthy and more complex when catastrophic injuries are involved. Don’t settle for anything less than you deserve if you sustained the injuries due to someone’s negligence. Skilled personal injury attorneys in Massachusetts can take up your case and help you obtain the maximum settlement amount your case is worth.

Joel H. Schwartz P.C. is a personal injury law firm that pursues justice for all victims of catastrophic injuries throughout Massachusetts. We will use every possible resource to help you recover the compensation your case is worth to help you rebuild yourself and move forward with your life. Call us at 508-850-0342 to schedule a FREE case assessment.